Locking device for ignition switches



' June 2 9 1 926.

INVENTOR ypMLaeky F. LOCKYER LOCKING DEVICE FOR IGNIT ION SWITCH 151$Filed Feb. 26 1925 @m m. N W. W

ATTORNEYS 7 ing devices Patented June 29, 1926.

UNITED STATES nnis nocKyEn oFsALrr LAKE CITY, UTAH, nssrenon r EAL-euroLoon Menu 1.? ATENT FFEQE;

nacrnnme oommmy, A coRPonArIon-on U'IlAI-I.

1 rocxme'nnvron non renirioiv swrrenn's.

,My invention is van improvement in lockfor an. automobile ignition{switch of conventional construction; and it consists in thecombinations, constructions 5 and; arrangements herein described andclaimed. r I I V i -object of the invention is Zthe provision of asimple, reliable ,and efficientdevice which is adapted-to be quickly andeasily placed in operative'position with;;rlespect to an' 'automobileignition switch of conven- I tional construction"withouttheuse oftools-and without any changes'in thelorfdinary construction of theignition switch and whichwhen in operative'position willeffectuallygprevent the insertion of a key or like instrument in theusual key hole of the ignition switch and; fthereiiore will preventoperation ofthegignition switch by Kan unauthorizedperson; I l

A; further] object. -oi:' ;the invention; is the provision; of a ideviceoi the character described which; is adapted to :be lo'clged inoperative position so that it is, practically" impossible: ior anunauthorized person to remove it :but which :when inlocked can 7 beconveniently and easily detached tromf-the ignition switch to permitoperation of the latter in the usual manner. I j I further object of theinvention is the provision of a device ofthe character described that isin accordancewith all known requirements of municipal and likeregulations which are designed to cover the} use of locking devices -forautomobi=les.- i v A still further'l bj ect of, the invention is theprovision of a device of the character described that is economical tomanufacture,

*notflikelyuto get out of order: easily,and-

thoroughly practical commercially; v 7

Other obj sets and advantages of the in vention will beQappar-ent. fromthefollowequipped with a locking device embodying ing description,consideredin conjunctiondrawi-ngs 1n Which:-

with the accompanying Figure l s 'axtace view showinga iconiv'entionalautoinoblle ignition switch the invention. i V a j V Figure 2- avertical sectionthrough the locking device, the ignition switch beingshown "in elevation.

a Figure 3 is a face'viewof thecap portion .of the locking device,

Figure 4 is a section:substantiailyfalong th lineH of Figure 1, r

is aperspective view of a shackle which is comprised inth'e lockingideivice. r

inFigures 1 and 2 the numeral 1 desiga nates, a conv entional automobileignition switchhaving a later-ally extending operatingjorhandle portion2.5 llhe' ignition i switch 1 protrudes from a supporting plate 3 whichmaybe a part of the instrument board of an automobile, vand the handleQis spaced from the supporting plate 3 as is usual so that it ca-nswingwithout j-lrictionally en; gaging the supportingplate. ,I'llhe switch 1means -(not shown) 'whichinay p rcventior permit swinging of the handle2yfrom the position shown in Figure 1; a It will be understood that whenthe handle 2 is in the Q position shown in Fi'gu-re 1,' the" ignitionswitch is inits off? position, and the battery which the ignition switchcontrols is disconnected, electrically both from the automobile enginecylinders a-nd the magneto of v the I automobile.

' My invention provides means for prevents ing anyunauthorlz-ed personfrom inserting a keylor instrument int-he keyhole ife-r re;

leasirigthe handlefl tor such movement as is required-to connect thebattery electrically with "the autoinobile engine cylinders, when r thedevice is operatively applied to the 'ig' nitionj'switchin the mannerillustrated in 1 ,Figu-res 1,;2 and'3'. ,The device can beds tachedfromihe ignition switch-to permit manipulationof the handle)? when lockwhich is COHJPX'lSQdili the device has-been operated by' neans of theproperkey. j How ever, it will be manifest] from the description of-thedevice which will follow and 7' riirom t-he illustration in the,drawings that'it will be practically impossible for an unauthorizedperson to forcibly displace the device from the ignition switch withoutsuch injury to the ignition switch vas would pre- 'cludeits use forthe-1 purpose for which it was provided or which would give evidenceugly tit Figure 161is ajview i similar to 1; showing a modified form oflocking; device' 105 of the unauthorized use of the switch. A deviceembodyingthe invention in the form 1 now 'pre-ferred by me comprises acap or" cover portione having-an end portion there v of formedinternally, as (j, to s'n over theprotruding ignition switchl, the

remainingportion of the cap or cover 5 fitt ng over the switch handle 2so that the marginal edge portion of the cap or cover cover is in is incontact with the supporting plate 3 and the switch 1 and its handle2 arecompletely housed by the supportingplate 3 an'd'the cover 5. The switchhandle 2 therefore cannot be manipulated by means of any instru' mentinserted between the cap or cover 5 and the supporting plate when thecap or ands. V I I Thedevice alSOJDClUdGS a substantlally U-shapedfastening or shackle bolt having web portion 7 adapted to slide betweenthe switch handleQ and the supporting plate 3 and having a'pair of armswhich straddlethe transverse openings for the receptionof' the shacklell'of a padlock 12, whereby the cap'or-eo'ver 5 will be' held againstthesupporting plate 3 and in position to cooperate with the latter to housethe switch 1 and the swltch handle 2. In order to prevent completedisplacement of the'shackle bolt 7 88 'ing 10 and the device has beenremoved from V of the arms 8 of the shackle of the device from-the cap"or cover 5 when the padlock shackle 11 has been displaced from theopenthe switch 1 and its handle, one ofthearms 8 of the shackle of thedevice may be formed with a bendable lug 13 which maybe; bent toposition to extend across the extremities after the arms 8 have beenextended through the apertures 9. V

7 It is to be understood that any suitable lniown locking means may beiZlSSOClZLtQCl with the arms 8 of the shackle of the device to'preventoutward movement of the capor cover of the device when the device is inlocking position. In Figured, I show modified form' of the device havingmeans other than j that hereinbefore r de-7' scribed for locking thecover orcap of the device in place. 'In the modification shown in Figure6, the cap or cover of the device/1s indicated at 15 and s provided withapertures 16 in its crown or outer portion through which arms 1'? oftheshackle of the modified form of the device may extend. The cap or cover,15 is formed to providea casing at 18 for any suitable known type oflocking mechanism having a lock bolt 19 movable to and from position toextend through aligned transverse openings 20 in the arms 17 of theshackle of thedevice. The locking mechanism within the casing 18 may beadapted to be operated inany suitable knownv manner, asbynieans of akey,not 'shown, inserted in a keyhole 21 in the lock-casing 18; I

Jl'ace shown in Fi ures 1' 2:

a r t q "When the cap or cover' which the invention provides is securedin place bymeans such ashereinbefore described, the ignition switchcannot be manipulated by an authorized person until the cap or cover ofthe device has been displaced, and as hereinhefore stated, the cap orcover of the device been operated by'the proper keyoruntil the devicehas been broken force which not and its handle, said cap having a pairof spaced apertures, a U-shaped fastening mem her having a web portionadapted to engage under the switch handle and having arms cannot bedisplaced until the locking means which holds the cap or cover in placehas adapted to straddle the handle and to extend 7 through the aperturesinthe crown portion of the cap, said arms having aligned openings in,their outer end portions adapted for the reception of a retainingele-ment v-for preve ting outward displacement of said cap on said arms.c w 7 2.- ,A' locking device for a switch havingta laterally extendinghandle, said devicefcom prising a cap adaptedtofitover the switch andits-handle, said cap having a pair of spaced apertures, a U-shapedfastening member havinga web portion adapted to engage under theswitchhandle and having varms adapted to 'straddle the handle and to extendthrough the apertures in the crown por tion ofthe cap, vand meansengageable with the outer end portions of said arms forpreventingoutward displacement of said cap on'said arms. i a

a mocking device" 3505 an ignition SWltCll having a laterally extendingoperating han-- V r dle, said locking device'comprising a cap adaptedtofit" over the switch and the han-.

dle, asubstantially U-shapedfastening memberhaying the web portionthereof adaptedto engage under-the handle and-having arms adapted tostraddle thefhan'dle and toex tend adapted to be movedto and fromposition to extend through said alignedjopenlnggas and for the purposedescribed. I

4. The combinationofasupporting plate, and a switch protruding fromisaid plate,

said switch having alaterall'y extending handle portion spaced from theplate, of a cap fitting over a switch and handle against said plate,said platehaving a pair of spaced apertures in the crown portion;thereof, a substantially u-shaped fastening member having a,w'eb;portion adapted to engage under said handle and having arms adapted tostraddle said handle and to extend through said apertures in the crownportion 10 of the cap, and meansreleasably engageable with the outer endportions of said arms for preventing outward displacement of said cap onsaid arms.

5. A locking device for a switch having a laterally extending handle,said device com; i

prisihg aeapadapted to over the switch and its handle, said cap having apair of spaced apertures, a U-shaped fastening mem 7 1 her having a webportionadapted to engage under the switch handle andhaving arms adaptedto straddle the handle and to extend through the'apertures'in the crownportion of the cap, one of said armshaving a portion at its extremitybendable toward the other of said arms, and means engageable with theouter end portions of said arms for preventing outward displacementofasaid f cap on said arms.

*LF AN LOGK ERJ

